I NEED HELP SELLING MY ACCOUNTS!!!!

[Greenmind]

Hey Guys! I am selling my accounts this week to a local landscaper. He wants to pay me in 3 payments. Over a 3 month period or 90 days as people stay with the new company. Also he does not want to pay the initial payment until all customers are contacted. Is he buying my business or my customers? Also is the 90 day period normal or am I being to generous, I have talked with several people and they seem to think that he is taking some risk by buying my accounts and thats part of the business and some suggest that I charge more for letting him pay over 90 days. What do you guys think? Any help with someone with experience in this area would be very helpful. I don't want to get taking on this transaction. I worked very hard to get and keep these customers.

[Steve]

Lawn care business tips

Originally Posted by [b Quote[/b] ]I am selling my accounts this week to a local landscaper. He wants to pay me in 3 payments. Over a 3 month period or 90 days as people stay with the new company. Also he does not want to pay the initial payment until all customers are contacted. Is he buying my business or my customers? Also is the 90 day period normal or am I being to generous, I have talked with several people and they seem to think that he is taking some risk by buying my accounts and thats part of the business and some suggest that I charge more for letting him pay over 90 days. What do you guys think? Any help with someone with experience in this area would be very helpful. I don't want to get taking on this transaction. I worked very hard to get and keep these customers. I don't like this deal very much for you. There is a lot that can go wrong with it and I have seen plenty of businesses sold on payment terms that never get paid. I would say you should get whatever payment you are looking to get all at once. Does anyone else have any views on this?

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If you are going to let him pay in installments, make sure that the payment amounts and deadlines are clearly written in a signed contract. Also, I would make sure that you contact the customers themselves...that way he can't claim that they left him when they really didn't. Whatever you do, make sure it's clearly documented, in case you need to take it up with him/the courts later.

[Little's]

I think the 90 days could be your potential problem in this deal. Have you checked this guys credit report? That should tell you a lot. If he has spotless credit, then you may be okay with doing it. Otherwise you may be able to take some collateral until he has paid up, like a lien on his truck, etc.
How many accounts are you selling, and for what price?

[Steve]

Keep us posted on what you decide to do.